Opinion: People must take dangers of FASD seriously

A certificate of recognition hangs on the office wall of the Hope Terrace, in Edmonton May 5, 2017. Operated by Bissell Centre, Hope Terrace has 15 units and provides housing and supports for 24 people living with FASD. David Bloom / Postmedia

At first glance, Travis doesn’t seem like someone who was born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Towering well past six feet, Travis appears to be a standard young adult —charming, personable, and handsome. But looks can be deceiving, and the effects the mental illness has had on Travis’ life are anything but mild. On top of having FASD, Travis has prefrontal cortex damage in his brain, exacerbated by years of abuse and neglect. Prolonged time spent with Travis reveals a short attention span, poor impulse control and a lack of understanding of the consequences encountered in adult life. At 23 years old, he has unrealized potential.

FASD occurs a when a mother drinks during pregnancy and the alcohol passes through the umbilical cord to the fetus. Although “light drinking” during pregnancy is often presumed to be safe, this assumption is not correct. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no safe amount of alcohol a pregnant woman can drink, nor is there a “safe time” during pregnancy when harm is likely to be minimized. This misconception has contributed to a higher prevalence of FASD than previously thought, since even a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy can cause brain damage.

The severity of the disorder can range from undetectable to noticeable cognitive disabilities, as well as physiological and behavioural issues. Studies of common birth defects indicate that roughly three per cent of Canadians are afflicted with FASD. It is more prevalent than Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), cystic fibrosis, and spina bifida combined. The average life expectancy for someone with FASD is 34.

Travis enlisted as an army cadet and excelled, demonstrating the potential inherent within children with FASD, but he adopted an unhealthy lifestyle due to poor impulse control. While a person with a healthy brain can easily understand the concept of working hard in the present and waiting for more significant rewards in the future, a person with FASD will more often opt for short-term gratification. Unfortunately, this tendency predisposes people with FASD towards a criminal lifestyle.

Although the condition is entirely preventable, it is incurable. Children born with severe FASD are often placed in foster care due to unstable family backgrounds. There, the condition is usually managed, not treated. Foster homes are not well-equipped to treat the condition, because there is still more to learn about it. FASD does not have a single, fool-proof treatment. Cognitive-behavioural therapy and counselling can help a family reconcile the behavioural problems that a child with FASD may have. Medical care can treat issues such as heart abnormalities, but mental disabilities and social skills often do not receive adequate attention in the foster system.

However, education about FASD is not a one-time occurrence.In order to understand the condition and how to care for children born with it, continuous education must be received by the biological or adoptive/foster parents. Unfortunately, many children with FASD are passed around in foster care until they age out of the system. At that point, they are on their own, easily falling into homelessness or criminal activity. In some jurisdictions in the United States, 30 per cent to 50 per cent of FASD children who age out of foster care are homeless.

The road has not come to an end for Travis, but there are others like him. For the thousands of children born with FASD who are struggling to reach their full potential, as well as those in foster care who have an even harder time without parents and support from trained professionals, it is important to raise awareness of this preventable condition.

Rahul Sharma is a student at Athabasca University, Riley Witiw is a student at MacEwan University, Tina Tai is a student at the University of Alberta, and Austin Mardon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and appointed to the Order of Canada for Mental Health Advocacy

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